Serbia-England (Jude Bellingham of England celebrates scoring his team's first goal) [1296x729]
Serbia-England (Jude Bellingham of England celebrates scoring his team's first goal) [1296x729] (Credit: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

Chicago plays Las Vegas after Reese s 25-point showing

The group stage at Euro 2024 is starting to take shape with the second round of matches underway. 

Who could book their progress in the second set of matches? Who has work to do? We run through all six groups and set out the permutations. 

The top two teams in each group go through to the round of 16, along with the four best runners-up. The third-placed scenarios can be found at the bottom of the article. 

This article will be updated after each group stage fixture. 

QUALIFIED (1/16): Germany

TIEBREAKERS: 

If teams are equal on points, they will be separated by the following criteria:

1. Head-to-head points 2. Head-to-head goal difference 3. Head-to-head goals scored

If three teams are level on points, a mini-league is created only involving the results of the matches between the teams in question.

4. If after applying stages 1-3 some teams are still level, it is reapplied just to those teams. For instance, England, Slovenia and Serbia are level on points; after applying 1-3, England are first but Slovenia and Serbia cannot be separated in the three-team mini-league. The direct head-to-head between Slovenia and Serbia would determine second place.     

If teams still cannot be separated, the following are applied: 

5. Group goal difference 6. Group goals scored 7. Penalty shootout, if the two teams are playing each other on the final matchday 8. If they don't play each other, lower disciplinary points (1 point yellow, 3 points red via two yellows, 3 points direct red, 4 points yellow followed by direct red)  9. European qualifiers overall ranking, unless Germany are involved. If Germany are involved, then it would be a random drawing of lots.

Group A

Results: 

Germany 5-1 Scotland Hungary 1-3 Switzerland Germany 2-0 Hungary Scotland 1-1 Switzerland

Remaining fixtures: 

June 23 Switzerland vs. Germany Scotland vs. Hungary

Germany: Germany are through, and will top the group with a win/draw against Switzerland. 

Switzerland: A draw vs. Germany will secure safe passage in second place.

Switzerland would top the group with a win, dropping Germany into second.

Switzerland will definitely be through in second with a defeat if Scotland draw/lose. If Switzerland lose and Scotland win, second place would come down to goal difference (see Scotland section), though four points is highly likely to be enough to go through in third.  

Scotland: To finish in second, Scotland must win and Switzerland lose with a goal-difference swing of at least six. If a six-goal swing happens and goal difference finishes equal (e.g. 2-0, 0-4 to put both teams on 4-6) then lower disciplinary points would decide second, which Switzerland hold.

However, a win to put them on four points should be enough in third.

A draw for Scotland, to finish on two points, will not be enough for a best third-place spot.

Hungary: Must beat Scotland to finish above them on three points in third and hope that's good enough. However, their goal difference stands at minus-4, so they would need a big win to have a realistic chance of continuing. 

Group B

Results:

Spain 3-0 Croatia  Italy 2-1 Albania Croatia 2-2 Albania

Remaining fixtures:

June 20 Spain vs. Italy

June 24 Albania vs. Spain  Croatia vs. Italy

Spain: Spain will qualify as group winners with a victory over Italy.

Italy: Italy will be through as group winners with a win over Spain.

Albania: Cannot qualify or be eliminated on matchday 2.

Croatia: Cannot qualify or be eliminated on matchday 2.

Group C

Results:

Slovenia 1-1 Denmark Serbia 0-1 England

Remaining fixtures:

June 20 Slovenia vs. Serbia  Denmark vs. England

June 25 England vs. Slovenia  Denmark vs. Serbia

England: Will qualify with a victory over Denmark, which will be as group winners if Serbia win/draw in the earlier match.

Denmark: Cannot qualify or be ruled out of the top two on matchday two.

Slovenia: As with Denmark, nothing can be decided from their match vs. Serbia. 

Serbia: Will be unable to finish in the top two if they lose to Slovenia, and eliminated completely if Denmark then beat England. 

Group D

Results: 

Poland 1-2 Netherlands  Austria 0-1 France

Remaining fixtures:

June 21 Poland vs. Austria Netherlands vs. France

June 25 France vs. Poland  Netherlands vs. Austria

Netherlands: Netherlands will qualify with a win, which will be as group winners if Poland win/draw in the earlier match on Friday.

France: France will be through with a win, which will be as group winners if Austria win/draw in the first fixture.

Poland: Cannot finish in the top two if they lose to Austria and France then win/draw.

Austria: Will not be able to finish in the top two if they are beaten by Poland and Netherlands win/draw.

Group E

Results:

Romania 3-0 Ukraine  Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

Remaining fixtures:

June 21 Slovakia vs. Ukraine

June 22 Belgium vs. Romania

June 26 Ukraine vs. Belgium  Slovakia vs. Romania

Romania: Romania can seal qualification with a win over Belgium, which will be in the top two if Slovakia get a win/draw against Ukraine, .

Slovakia: If Slovakia can get a victory against Ukraine they are through, and that will be in the top two if Romania win/draw against Belgium.

Belgium: Won't be able to finish in the top two if Slovakia win/draw against Ukraine and then Belgium lose to Romania. Would remain in the hunt to go through in third.

Ukraine: Can't take an automatic place if they lose to Slovakia and Romania then win/draw against Belgium. But there would be a final-match showdown with Belgium for third.

Group F

Results:

Turkey 3-1 Georgia  Portugal 2-1 Czechia

Remaining fixtures:

June 22 Georgia vs. Czechia Turkey vs. Portugal

June 26 Czechia vs. Turkey Georgia vs. Portugal

Turkey: Turkey will be through with a win, which will be as group winners if Georgia win/draw in the first game.

Portugal: Portugal will qualify with a victory, which will be as group winners if Czechia win/draw against Georgia.

Czechia: Will be eliminated if they are beaten by Georgia and Turkey win/draw.

Georgia: Will be out if they lose to Czechia and Portugal then win/draw.

Ranking of best third-placed teams

The four best runners-up will go through to the round of 16.

This format has been in place for two previous editions, and both times four points secured progress. At Euro 2020, Ukraine sneaked through on three points. At Euro 2016, both Northern Ireland and eventual winners Portugal made it on three points. 

It's still very early days to determine how many points will be required. 

The third-place ranking is determined first by: 

1. Points 2. Goal difference 3. Goals scored 4. Wins 5. Lower disciplinary points 6. European qualifiers overall ranking, unless Germany are involved. If Germany are involved, random draw.

While this is the current top six, the ranking can flip around very quickly by another team leaping into third place in a group, or dropping down into it.